Billings, Mont. – The Yellowjackets' women's basketball team will host No. 9 nationally ranked Western Washington University Thursday, Feb. 14; then host No. 8 Simon Fraser University on Saturday, Feb. 16 for their Senior Night. MSUB still remains unbeaten at Alterowitz Gymnasium this season and own an 11 game home win streak.
The annual Pink Zone Night will be co-sponsored by the EVA Project, which offers free digital mammography screenings to women 40 and over who are uninsured or underinsured. MSU Billings Jackets and Co. will be the other sponsor of the event and students that attend Pink Zone Night will have a chance to win a $500 dollar gift card to Jackets and Co. T-shirts will be given to students who sit in the student section while supplies last. Yellowjacket fans are encouraged to attend this event wearing pink attire for breast cancer awareness.
MSUB will have their hands full with a formidable foe, as Western Washington is the GNAC standings leader. The Vikings owned an 11 game win streak and a No. 4 national ranking entering last weekend before being upset by Simon Fraser 74-59 on Saturday, Feb. 9. While Western Washington dropped back in the polls, they still remain a dangerous team as they shoot 45.5 percent from the field and hold their opponents to 60.7 points per contest. The Vikings also do a good job of contesting shots averaging 3.8 blocks per game, ranking third amongst GNAC teams.
This match up proves to be a good one as Western Washington escaped with a two point victory in their first bout with the Yellowjackets. MSUB will need to limit Britt Harris' production as she leads the team in scoring (15.1 avg.) and is third in rebounding (5.2 avg.). Harris' averages rank her No. 6 in points and No. 18 in rebounding in the GNAC. Trishi Williams and Corinn Waltrip are also key players for the Vikings as they average 11.1 and 10.8 points per contest. Williams is second on the team in rebounding with a 5.8 per game average.
The Yellowjackets will need a complete team effort starting with junior guard and co-captain
Bobbi Knudsen. Currently the junior guard leads the team in minutes played, field goal percentage, points, and assists. Knudsen is also second on the team in steals. Her 6.0 assists per game rank No. 2 nationally and No. 1 in the GNAC; while her 17.0 scoring average rank No. 2 among GNAC players.
Janiel Olson will need to put together another great effort on the boards and on defense. Olson leads the team in rebounding (8.9 avg.) and steals (2.3 avg.). In the conference she ranks third in rebounding and eighth in steals.
Pink Zone Night will be a part of a double-header event that features MSUB's men's basketball team facing Northwest Nazarene University at 5:15 p.m. The women's contest versus Western Washington will tip off shortly afterwards at 7:30 p.m.
Following the conclusion of this event, the Yellowjackets will face their second nationally ranked opponent of the week when Simon Fraser treks into town Saturday, Feb. 16. The Clan is riding a four game winning streak including an upset victory over GNAC leader Western Washington. The win propelled Simon Fraser to the No. 8 team in the nation in the Feb. 12
USA Today Sports Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll. The Clan is the most complete team in the conference owning a +17.5 scoring margin while also averaging 4.7 blocks per game. Simon Fraser leads the GNAC in scoring margin, field goal percentage and blocked shots.
In their Jan. 17 match up, Simon Fraser defeated MSUB 89-58. In order for the Yellowjackets to be successful on Feb. 16, they will need strong post play from
Kayleen Goggins and Olson. The duo will compete against Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe who averages 15.8 points and 12.8 rebounds. She ranks No. 1 in rebounding and No. 5 in scoring in the GNAC. Nationally Raincock-Ekunwe ranks No. 5 in rebounding and No. 1 in field goal percentage.
Goggins averages 12.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per contest, ranking No. 14 in scoring in the conference.
“This weekend represents a tremendous challenge for our team,” stated head coach
Kevin Woodin. “Both of our opponents are nationally ranked and at the top of the GNAC. We will need to play with great confidence and execute on both ends of the floor.”
Saturday night's contest will be a part of another double-header event where the women's game will be at 5:15 p.m. and the men's team will play Central Washington University at 7:30 p.m. The event will also mark senior night for
Ashley Reed and
Brooke Tolman.
Senior Night
Reed has been a member of the Yellowjackets program since 2009-10 and has appeared in 76 games while registering 944 career minutes. Her career totals are 188 points, 187 rebounds, 45 steals and 10 blocks. Reed is a Human Services major.
Tolman has been a member of MSUB's women's basketball program since 2010-11 and has appeared in 50 games while starting 22. In her career she has registered 1,202 minutes, 378 points, 115 assists, 67 steals and nine blocks. In 2011-12 Tolman earned GNAC player of the week honors Jan. 23-29 and GNAC Academic All-Conference honors. She is the 2012-13 co-captain and majors in Biology. Tolman also earned letters as a two year starter for the Yellowjackets' volleyball program.
“It has been my pleasure to coach both Brooke and Ashley,” Woodin said. “They are exceptional young women who have excelled both on the court and in the classroom. I wish them the best in their future endeavors and thank them for their hard work and dedication to our women's basketball program.”
Yellowjackets' fans are encouraged to come out to Alterowitz Gymnasium Saturday night and cheer on Reed and Tolman in their final home game. If you are unable to attend you can catch all of the action live by following the link below or the “video” link next to each game on the women's basketball schedule page.
MSUB Sports Web Cast and Live Stats
